Tubular pole or shaft for vehicles.



Patented lu|y 22, i902.

H. 7. 2 4l! 5 0 7 0. N

TUBULAR PGLE 0R SHAFT FOR VEHICLES.

(Applicationled Oct. 25, 1901.)

(VM Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY MCLOUGHLIN, OF STAPLETON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BARTON E. KINGMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TUBULAR POLE OR SHAFT FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,427, dated July 22, 1902.

Application filed October 25, 1901. Serial No. 79,985. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, HARRY `MCLOUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stapleton, Staten Island, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tubular Shafts or Poles for Vehicles, of Which the following isa speciication.

My invention relates to tubular shafts and poles for vehicles, the object of the same being to provide means for connecting together the various parts of the shaft or pole, so that a double taper may be formed in the completed article and so that greater strength and rigidity may be obtained at the points Where most needed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of connection between the whifiietree and the part on which it is mounted, whereby `a. free bearing for the whiflietree is produced and danger of bendingw or buckling of the tubular parts at the point of connection is prevented.

Other objects and advantages of. the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specication, Figure l isa Vertical' longitudinal sectional view of a vehicle-shaft constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a pair of such shafts, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the cross-bar connectingthe shafts and the whif- Iietree mounted thereon. Fig-4 is an enlarged sectional view of the joint between the whiftletree and the cross-bar, and Fig. 5 is a similar View of the joint betweenI the cross--v bar and the two sections of one of the shafts.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

Whilev my improvementshave been shown in connectionwithfthe shafts of avehicle, I desire it to be distinctly understood that they are also applicable to poles for vehicles.

The shafts l are 'connected together as usual by a cross-bar 2, all of which parts are constructed of metal in tubular form. Each of the shafts l is made in two parts 3 and 4, thepart 3 being tapered from a point adjacent to the cross-bar 2 to its outer end and the part 4, which constitutes the butt-end of the shaft, being tapered from a point adjacent to the cross-bar 2 rearwardly. These `parts 3 and 4 and the cross-bar 2 are connected together bymeans of a coupling-piece 'or bracket 5. one of said coupling-pieces being provided. at each end of the cross-bar 2, as clearly shown. The said coupling-piece is in tubular form and is provided with the tongues or projections 6, 7, and yS. The tongue or projection 6 is adapted to fit Within and is brazed,rivet'ed,l or otherwise secured to the rear end of the part 3 of the shaft. The tongue or projection 7 is adapted to fit Within and is brazed, riveted, or otherwise secured to the forward end of the part 4 of the shaft, and the tongue or projection Sis adapted to it Within and is brazed, riveted, or otherwise secured -to the end of the tubular cross-bar 2. When thusin place, said coupling 5 serves to firmly and rigidly secure the parts 3, 4, and 2te each other. Each of the tongues or projections 6, 7, and 8 is of slightly-smaller diameter than the body of .the bracket 5, so as to form the shoulders 9, againstwhich the ends of the parts 3, 4, and i 2,in which said tongues or projections iit,

may bear. These shoulders serve'as guides or stops for insuring the proper position of the parts 3, 4, and 2 on the coupling-piece 5,

and consequently provide for the proper relative positions being obtained between the` different parts ofthe shaft-as a Whole. When these parts are in place, the outer surfaces thereof preferably lie iiush with the outer surfaces of the body of the coupling-piece 5, so as to present a continuous or unbroken surface to the shaft, and thereby produce a neater appearance. Y By-making the shafts in two parts and connecting these parts to each other and to the cross-bar 2 by means of the coupling-pieces 5 .I am enabled to secure a taper vin the tubular shaft toward both ends and to make the butt-end 44 thereof. and the cross-bar 5, Where the greatest strain is received, of increased thickness and strength Without altering the external appearance of the same. These are material points of advantage in aY device of this kind.

Pivoted to the center and extending transf versely of the cross-bar 2 is the whiii'letree l0, the same being made in a plurality of tubular parts 11 12 in order to obtain a double taper' toward the ends thereof. One of said parts is provided with a longitudinally-extending contracted tongue or projection 13, which fits within and is brazed, riveted, or otherwise secured to the end of the other part. This construction is clearly illustrated in the drawings. The bearing between the whiffietree 10 and the cross-bar 2 is produced by the thimbles 14 and 15 and the connecting-bolt 16, which passes through said thimbles and has a tightening-nut 17 on one end thereof. The thimble 14 extends through an opening in the lower wall of the tubular whiftletree lO and bears atits upper end, as shown at 1S, against the innersurface of the upper wall ofsaid whiffletree. Said thimble is formed with a broad base 1U, provided with an annular or segmental groove 20. The lhimble 15 is a counterpart of the thimble 14, the same extending through an opening in the upper wall of the tubular cross-bar 2 and bearing at its lower end, as shown at 21, against the inner surface of the lower wall of said cross-bar. The upper end of said thimble 15 is provided with abroad outwardly-extending flange 22, corresponding with the base 19 on the thimble 14 and provided with an annular or segmental rib 23, which fits and is adapted to move within the groove 2O in the base 19. The thimble 14 may also be provided with an annular rib 24,which fits and is adapted to move within the annular groove or recess 25 in the thimble 15. The whiliietree 10 and the cross-bar 2 are connected to each other by means of the bolt 16 and the nut 17 on one end thereof, the said bolt passing through the thimbles 14 and 15,

as clearly shown. As the nut 17 is screwed up upon the bolt 16 the strain or pressure thereof will be received by the two thimbles 14 and 15, and there will be no danger of bending or buckling of the parts 10 and 2. This is due to the fact that no strain can be brought by said bolt and nut on said tubular parts, the same bein,"r due to the fact that the outer ends of the thimbles 14 and 15 bear against the inner surfaces of the outer walls of said tubular parts. The ribs 23 and 24, which fit and move within the grooves 20 and 25, respectively, serve to maintain the two thimbles 14 and 15 properly centered one upon the other and prevent relative displacement.

Vthile the joint described between the parts 10 and 2 is particularly intended for use as a means for connecting the whiiiietree with the cross-bar of a pair ot' vehicle-shafts, it is obvious that the same is capable of use in other connections, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the use of this part of my invention in the particular location herein shown and described.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the tubular shafts of a vehicle, each of which is madein two parts which taper in opposite directions, and a tubular cross-bar between said shafts, of tubular coupling-pieces for connecting the two parts of each of said shafts to each other and to said cross-bar, each of said coupling-pieces haviugaseries ot' tongues or projections thereon integral with the body thereof and of smaller diameter than said body, one of said tongues or projections fitting within and secured to the forward part of one of said shafts, another of said tongues or projections fitting within and secured to the Vrear part of said shaft and the third of said tongues or projections fitting within and secured to the adjacent end of said cross-bar.

2. The combination with the tubular shafts of a vehicle, each of which is made in two parts which taper in opposite directions, and a tubular cross-bar between said shafts, of tubular coupling-pieces for connecting the two parts of each of said shafts to each other and to said cross-bar, each of said coupling-pieces having a series of contracted tongues or projections thereon integral with the body of the coupling-piece and forming a series of shoulders, one of said tongues or projections titting within and secured to the forward part of one of said shafts, another of said tongues or projections fitting within and secured to the rear part of said shaft and the third of said tongues or projections fitting within and secured to the adjacent end of said cross-bar, each of the ends of the two parts of said shaft and the end of said cross-bar which is adjacent to said coupling-piece bearing against said shoulders.

3. The combination with the tubular shafts of a vehicle,each of which is made in two parts which taper in opposite directions, and a tubular cross-bar between said shafts, of tubular coupling-pieces for connecting the two parts of each of said shafts to each other and to said cross-bar, each of said coupling-pieces having a series of contracted tongues or proj ections thereon integral with the body of the IIO coupling-piece and forming a series of shoulders, one of said tongues or projections fitting within and secured to the forward part of one of said shafts, another of said tongues or projections fitting within and secured to the rear part of said shaft and the third of said tongues or projections fitting within and secured to the adjacent end of said cross-bar, each of the ends of the two parts of said shaft and the end of said cross-bar which is adjacent to said coupling-piece bearin g against said shoulders and the outer surfaces of the two parts of said shaft and of said cross-bar lying fiush with the outer exposed surfaces of said couplingpiece.

4. The combination of two tubular parts, and a pivotal connection between the same, the said pivotal connection comprising a thimble extending through an opening in 011e wall of one of said parts, having a flange thereon outside said wall and bearing at its opposite end against the inner surface of the other wall of said part, a thimble extending through an,

opening inV one wall of the other of said parts, having a ange thereon bearing against the ange onthe other of said thinlble's andbearing at its opposite end against the inner surface of the other wall of said part, a bolt conneeting said parts and passing through said thimbles, and a nnt'upon one endof said'bolt, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of a tubular cross-bar connecting a pair of'vehiele-shafts, a tubular whifetree, and a pivotal connection between said parts, the saine comprising a thimble eX- tending throughan opening in the upper wall of said cross-bar, having a flange outside said wall and bearing at its opposite end against the-inner Surface of the lower wall of said cross-bar, a thimble extending through an grooves, a boit extending through said thimbles, and a clamping-nut upon one end of said boit, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HARRY. MCLOUGHLIN.

Witnesses:

J. H. CARMIENOKE, GEO. B. COOKE. 

